Helen Thompson is the Managing Director of Social Development Direct. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the company, its financial health and the overall quality of technical delivery.
Helen has over 15 years of experience in international development and humanitarian programme delivery, with a particular focus on inclusive governance and gender equality. She started her career working with international institutions and a local feminist NGO in Vienna, where she completed her master’s degree in international studies. She then joined the UK’s Department for International Development, leading social inclusion programming across the MENA region and as Head of Political Inclusion and Accountability at the British Embassy in Afghanistan. She led cross-government policy formulation in the spheres of migration and anti-corruption, and worked closely with ministers to manage public and parliamentary scrutiny in her role as Deputy Head of DFID Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Helen then joined CARE International UK’s programme department, where she worked with CARE’s country offices and partners to deliver humanitarian assistance, girls’ education, social norms change, climate justice, gender-based violence, and women’s voice and leadership programming, with a significant focus on the MENA region and Asia. Most recently as Director of Programmmes, Policy and Advocacy, she spearheaded the organisation’s new strategy focused on local leadership and women’s leadership in crisis.
Outside work, Helen spends most of her time playing with her two young sons. When time, she likes to read a good book, or relive her triathlon days with a quick run, swim or spin class.